PARLIAMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

DISCUSSION OF ESTIMATES THE DEPARTMENTAL VOTES. (Abridged from Press Association). WELLINGTON, October 4.

The House of Representatives this morning resumed consideration of the departmental estimates. On* the Justice and 1 Prisons Department vote, Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) urged the Minister to make a greater contribution to the Discharged

Prisoners’ Aid Society. Mr J. MdKeen (Labour, Wellington South) sought information regarding the disposal of vegetables grown by prisoners. He said it was not fair that such produce should compete with that grown by people who were making a livelihood from it. ]Mi- F. W. Siehramm (Labour, Auckland East) suggested that £IOOO should be made available for discharged prisoners. He said it would he money well spent. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe), in reply, said that the amount actually paid to the Society was small, but prisoners actually re-

ceived £6500 last year from, their accumulated earnings. No country in the world did as much as New Zealand in proportion to the number of prisoners. The amount could he increased if thought desirable. Regarding vegetables, only a small quantity went to the open market and prices were fixed. There was no desire to undercut the "market prices. Prisoners also received useful training in gardening. Referring to the Police Department vote, Mr Schramm asked if it was intended to increase the size of the force and to reduce the hours of and senior-sergeants. He hoped the Minister would see that Constable Stewart, who was injured while attempting to arrest a motor-car thief, was given a grant for services he has rendered.

The suggestion of a grant was supported by Mr A. E. Ansell (Coalition, Chalmers). Mr T. H. McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) asked when the Department intended to consider favourably the appointment of women police. The leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) asked’ that further consideration' be given the widow of Constable Heeps, who was shot by a Maori when attempting to arrest him in connection with a murder case. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe in reply said that Constable Stewart was still on the sick list and was receiving full pay. The case was still being considered. The widow of Constable Heeps, in addition to receiving a grant of £IOOO, had received! the superannuation allowance. Inquiries were still being made regarding women police and the matter woul be*" considered further when necessary. Soldiers’ Affairs. On vhe Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account, Mr Langstone said it was not right that soldiers' pensions should be taken to meet their obligations to the Department. Soldiers’ pensions, bo contended, should not be considered in any way. Sir Alfred Ransom said it was not desirable that soldiers’ pensions should be considered, but there were som.e cases when it was necessary that i> should be done. Generally speaking, the pensions were recognised as compensation for disability, but he isstanced a case where a man was receiving a pension of £8 a week, and where his rent was charged against his pension. . , ? Mr Stallworthy asked it solcueis mortgages were to be handed over to

the Mortgage Corporation and dealt with strictly on a business basis and no consideration given to a man’s services to his country. Sir Alfred Ransom said that there had been many meetings of returned soldier settlers asking to be kept under the Lands Department, but the Cabinet had not yet considered whether those mortgages should be transferred to the Mortgage Corporation or not. Mi- W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manawatu) asked if it was intended thas the Government should pay a sum equal to the rates to county councils where they were moregagees in possession. If so, it would help the councils considerably. ■ ■■■J . Mr W. E. Parry,(Labour, Auckland Central)' said he hoped if the grant was made in the country the same would apply to the cities. Sir Alfred Ransom said that wupre

the Government was farming a property it would take the| amount fiom the earnings and make a grant to trie councils to coyer the payment or rates. In a case where the Government was the mortgagee in possession and no revenue was derived, the sanib uudeitaking had not been considered. The following' items were passed this afternoon:—Electoral Department £77,972, Valuation Department £42,900, Lands and Survey £162,000, Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account £70,500, Lands for Settlement Account £4495. State Forest Account £130,371, Crown Law Office £5918, Native Trustee Account £15,500. Progress was reported, arid the House rose at 5.20 p.m.